At the age of 98, sprightly Norman Tilley is surely one of Kent's oldest sportsmen.

Still blessed with a remarkably keen eye and deft touch, he also retains his competitive spirit - as his opponents on the bowls green will attest.

Norman Tilley talks fondly about his bowling

It has taken him to six championship finals at Whitstable Bowling Club, but he's only been the victor once, in the pairs competition.

The singles trophy has always eluded him - unlike his wife, Kathleen, 87, who has twice bagged victories in the women's indoor final.

Norman took up bowls and joined the club at the age of 68, having previously dabbled less successfully on the golf course.

"It's been a great activity and interest for both of us, but my bowling arm is not as strong as it used to be," he admits.

"It's surprising how much effort you need to send that ball down the green."

Club captain Brian Reynolds says Norman is an inspiration to his fellow players.

"We'd all like to think we'll still be playing well into our 90s, like Norman," he said.

"Most people can't believe the age he is, and he can still give us a run for our money on the greens.

"He just a real character who always has an opinion about how things should be done."

Norman, who lives in Tankerton, is also valued for his organisational skills and over the years has arranged numerous trips abroad for club members to play bowls.

He grew up in Whitstable, leaving the town's high school aged 14 for his first job, earning the equivalent of 37p a week in Rye's furniture store.

"I got fed up with that and got another job in a dairy which paid £2 a week, which was much better," he said.

"But money was very tight back then and people were proper poor. I remember my mum sending me down to the grocery store to buy cracked eggs because they were cheaper."

War broke out when he was 16 and the following year he joined the Home Guard before enrolling in the RAF as a ground gunner.

"I wanted to be an air gunner but you didn't last long up there and I got talked out of it by my brothers, much to my mother's relief, " he said.

After serving for four years, largely in the Middle East, Norman made it back safely back home and began working as a clerk for the then Southern Railway, until he was made redundant and retired aged 61.

"Who knows, I could still be bowling when I'm 100....."

Seven years later he took up bowls, with the club conveniently a short walk from his home.

"I was a decent player in my day and took quite a few scalps," he said.

"It's a bit frustrating that I can't play at the same level now, and I think some opponents play on my weaknesses sometimes these days but I still enjoy it.

"There's a great camaraderie in the club and I still play a couple of times a week and at the indoor bowls club in the winter.

"I plan to keep on bowling for as long as I can and, who knows, I could still be playing when I'm 100."

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